This study extends the finite mixture model proposed by Landry and Liu (2009) to control for on-site sampling in the context of a system of recreation demand equations. We apply the model to a quasi-panel of recreational trip data under current and hypothetical wildfire conditions. We use the...

Chattanooga is central to many rock-climbing locations that benefit the local economy. However, a lack of metrics quantifying the positive impacts render reliable access to and protection of land for the purpose of rock-climbing problematic. An influx of climbers also complicates land management...

Nature tourism resorts are particularly sensitive to the impact of climate change and weather extremes, such as droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, extreme frost and flooding. While studies have been conducted to assess the implications of climate change on nature resorts in the global north, there is...

Nature consistently has the highest score when international tourists are asked which factor was most influential when deciding to travel to Iceland. When probed further, references are most often made to wanting to experience wilderness, and what is perceived as pristine and unspoiled nature....

The recreational and economic benefits of hunting on traditional permanent public lands are well-established. Increasingly popular "open fields" hunting access programs temporarily open private lands to public hunting through public-private partnerships. Open fields programs have the potential to...

Improving visitor experiences the key to boosting tourism

Environmental economists routinely use travel cost methods to value recreational services from protected areas, but a number of limitations remain. First, most travel cost studies focus on a single protected area or a small handful of protected area sites; value estimates that relate to a protected ...

We conducted a critical review of methods for assessing value creation through investment in sport and active recreation. Value areas theorized included: physical, mental, economic and community. Harm areas included: physical/mental health, individual economic cost, detrimental...

Human actions in protected areas impact both the human and natural side of coupled human and natural systems. While this is broadly accepted, research projects that measure both social and ecological impacts of activities are rare. This study used an integrated approach to understand the social,...

The visibility, safety, and health effects of seasonal wildfires may affect recreational visits to national parks (NPs), even if fires occur outside of park boundaries. This study statistically quantifies the effect of nearby wildfire on tourist flows to each of Utah's five NPs (Arches, Bryce...